Is your eye red and painful? It could be Uveitis. Let's learn everything about Uveitis!

Have you ever woken up in the morning and suddenly felt like your eyes were red, sore, and hard to see in the light? Or do you see small black objects floating in front of your eyes? Although we sometimes think of these things as 'eye diseases', perhaps this is something that needs a little more attention. Uveitis is one such condition that needs immediate attention. Today, we will talk about this in a simple way that you can understand.

What is Uveitis?

Simply put, uveitis is an inflammation or swelling of the layer inside our eye called the 'uvea'.

Imagine that our eye is like a small ball. This ball has three walls, that is, three layers. The uvea is the middle one of those walls. This layer is a very important part that supplies the eye with blood and nourishes the eye. So when this part becomes inflamed, we call it Uveitis. This can affect just one eye or both eyes at the same time.

Now you might think that it's just a small swelling. But the eye is a small space. So when this uvea swells, the pressure inside the eye increases due to that swelling and the shape of the eye can change a little. The shape of the eye is very important for our vision. So even this small change can blur or confuse our vision.

What are the symptoms of uveitis?

Uveitis does not affect all parts of the eye in the same way. Symptoms vary depending on where it is affected. Doctors divide it into three main types: Anterior Uveitis, Intermediate Uveitis, and Posterior Uveitis. Sometimes all three parts can be affected at the same time. This is called Panuveitis.

The most common type of uveitis is anterior uveitis, which affects the front of the eye. Let's take a look at the symptoms of each type.

Why does this Uveitis occur? What are the causes?

In most cases, between 50% and 70% of cases, no specific cause can be found . Doctors call it `idiopathic`. That means it occurs without a cause. However, there are several possible causes. Let's look at them.

Is this contagious from person to person?

No. Uveitis is not contagious. However, if the cause of uveitis is an infectious disease (e.g. tuberculosis), the underlying infection can be contagious.

What can happen if uveitis becomes severe?

If not treated promptly, this swelling inside the eye can lead to serious complications. Some of these include:

• Cataracts: Blurred vision due to clouding of the lens of the eye.
• Glaucoma: Permanent loss of vision due to continued increase in pressure inside the eye, which damages the optic nerve.
• Retinal damage: Damage to the sensitive membrane that provides vision in the eye due to swelling (Cystoid Macular Edema) or detachment (Detached Retina).
• Synechiae: The adhesion of the iris to the lens or cornea in front of the eye .

The best way to prevent things like this is to start treatment as soon as symptoms appear.

How does a doctor diagnose uveitis?

When you see an eye specialist with these symptoms, he or she will first ask you about your symptoms, recent infections, and any accidents you have had.

Then, a special instrument (a `slit lamp`) is used to examine the inside of your eye. This can detect signs of swelling inside the eye. The pressure inside the eye may also be measured (`tonometry`) and an ``octogram`` scan may be done to look for changes in the layers at the back of the eye.

Sometimes, to find the cause of uveitis, your doctor may ask you to do some more tests.

• Blood tests: Check for infections or immune system problems in the body.
• X-ray or MRI scan: Check for signs of disease in the chest or elsewhere in the body.
• Fluorescein Angiography: A special test to examine the blood vessels inside the eye.

What are the treatments for uveitis?

Because there are many causes of uveitis, treatments vary widely. There is no single cure. Treatment depends on what caused your uveitis and what part of the eye it affects.

There are three main goals of treatment:

1. Reducing swelling (inflammation): Steroids are the most commonly used medications for this. These can be given as eye drops, injections around the eye, or pills.

2. Pain control: Special eye drops (cycloplegics) are used to reduce eye pain and sensitivity to light. These reduce pain by dilating the pupil of the eye and stopping the contraction of the eye muscles.

3. Treating the underlying cause: If the cause is a bacterial infection, antibiotics can be given, and if it is a virus, antivirals can be given. If the cause is a problem with the immune system, specific medications may be needed.

How serious is this situation? Can it be prevented?

In fact, Uveitis is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the world. But don't panic. It's only dangerous if you don't get treatment right away . If you see a doctor as soon as you have symptoms and start treatment, you have a much better chance of making a full recovery and avoiding any damage to your vision.

Uveitis cannot be completely prevented, as the cause is often unknown. However, there are some things we can do to reduce our risk.

• Get your eyes checked regularly: It's important to get your eyes checked at least once a year. This way, any problems can be identified early.
• Protect your eyes: Wear safety glasses when doing dangerous work or playing sports.
• Treat infections promptly: See a doctor immediately to prevent any infection from spreading in the body.

When should I see a doctor as soon as possible?

Pay special attention to these features:

• If the eye pain is getting worse.
• If vision suddenly decreases or disappears.
• If you see flashes of light before your eyes.
• If you suddenly have more black spots (`floaters`) before your eyes, or if the ones you have are very noticeable.
• Photophobia, which means that bright light causes eye pain.

If you are already being treated for uveitis and these symptoms get worse, contact your doctor immediately.

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